^^^^^

'14 mdx > '14 rlx.

 

Deal wasn't the "D" word I was thinking....... I was thinking more along the lines of "Depreciation" if it dropped over 60g's in that time frame. Which acura holds the highest residual in the luxury vehicles.

 

There is no such thing as a great deal or a best deal. Because that is only an opionion versus and actual fact. What a dealer may consider the best deal isnt always what a best deal (in the customers eyes) is. You have to pay to play so to speak so if you want to be the first you pay to be the first. The 14 MDX you cant keep in stock right now people are buying them left and right so from a bussiness stand point why would you discount one? As far as the quality goes on the new mdx it is phenominal, and all the standard equipment on them not to mention the additional improved gas mileage from previous gen. The quiet ride it has and the level of comfort in the suspension is by far the best suv in that class currently........just my opinion.

 

I hear that don't want to be the MSRP buyer when it drops that fastn

 

Just picked u my 14 MDX SH-AWD Advance and I love it glad I went with it over other choices. @ Pitbull11 I just traded in my 06 Maserati Coupe and depreciation on that was crazy.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Congrats!! I have been living in mine (same model as yours) since I picked it up on June 20! :-D This thing just GLIDES on the road.

 

Picked up my 2014 MDX on release day. Already have over 1000 miles on it. Needless to say I love it!

 

 

You hit every nail on the head for the 2014

NOTHING comes close. Too bad Infiniti tried with the JX, err, extended Murano and a year later, no one remembers it unless they must have a multiple thousands discount. The reason why Infiniti's are sold.

Between the styling, the interior, the sublime powertrain and silence inside, and space/seating flexibility in the back, the MDX is a knockout.

To everyone who has one, enjoy. Good move being first!

 

I will comment here as I have experience with many of the points made in this thread. First off, I bought a 14 ADV/ENT. We traded our 2010 MDX and $22600 for the new one so for almost 4 years in the old one I felt the depreciation was not too bad. The previous car to the 2010 was a 2007 X5 and we put less miles on it than the 2010 MDX, but lost close to $40000 from the original MSRP in less ownership time than we owned the 2010 MDX. Still not as bad as the Ferrari though. That being said, it makes sense that the more expansive the vehicle, the more you,are likely to lose. In terms of Acura not being as luxurious I disagree. The X5 did not have as many features and I'm some respects the quality was lower (leather was too close to MB-TEX vinyl in feel, some hard plastic on trim areas, etc.). In other respects (real wood trim, power folding mirrors, etc. it was better). The one thing that convinced me we would not be keeping the BMW when the warranty was running out was that we had a recurring transmission shift issue and the dealer went to reprogram the TCU. Somehow during this process it fried a module that controlled the starting system (recognizing the key being put in the dash slot). This module is VIN specific so even though the X5 is built 10 minutes from where we live it had to be special ordered and took almost a month to arrive. Had it not been covered under warranty it would have been a $1400 repair (for a module that had nothing to do with the reason it was in service in the first place!). To us the 2010 MDX was a very nice driving vehicle, although I will admit the lack of automatic wipers, keyless starting and backup sensors was annoying. Overall we really enjoyed the 2010, but the one main issue with that car was road noise, especially on highway trips. It was like listening to white noise and after 3-4 hours I would literally have a headache from it. We also had to turn up the radio and speak louder than normal as a result of it. Ultimately, that was the one area I would not compromise on the replacement. I can say the 2014 is MUCH quieter. The interior is higher quality, and even though the wood is still fake, it does not look fake to the casual onlooker (and the 2010 really looked fake by comparison). The other pleasant surprise so far has been fuel economy. We could not get more than 15 and change around town and only about 19 to 20 on the highway. We are close to 20 around town right now. Taking our first long trip this weekend so even though we are still in the break in period I hope we can clear 25 or better.

 

As a former X5 owner (and I have owned 5 Bimmers) I think you may be confusing luxurious with cachet. I mean no disrespect at all. I just think people are buying into the brand to justify the cost difference. The new MDX is very much a luxury vehicle and in many ways more luxurious than the X5. I have bought many things and paid a premium for the "brand" including watches, computers, cars, clothes, etc. In many cases the cost difference is not justified by the quality or feature differences between those brand names and a less expensive more plebeian alternative.

 

With all due respect, I'm not confused at all. Please read the whole post and if you did, quote the whole post and not just parts of it so as not to lose the context.
As I said in my previous post: It may not be as luxurious or as sporty. Key word: may. It's all about perception. Some perceive BMW as generally more luxurious than Acura. Some may not. My point in my previous post is about the value that you are getting from the new MDX compared to BMW and other German counterparts. Also, if you notice, I was comparing the new MDX to the upcoming 2014 BMW X5 and not the existing second generation X5 (2006-2013), which is in dire need of a refresh.
We actually agree on the fact that the new MDX is a great value if you are on the market for a luxury SUV. Thanks!

 

Wow!! I get 15 mpg in 100+ degree weather in Vegas and that's with a Lexus LX that weighs close to 6000 lbs.

 

Nice to hear that the new MDX is notably better in fuel economy. Honestly, that's the only downside of my 12 MDX Tech. IMO, it's road noise is not particularly bothersome. (And I'm posting this after just having driven from Central NJ to Cape Cod.)

That said, I'm still on the fence about what to do when my lease comes due. A 15 MDX tech is a probable next move but the new JX is very tempting. However, I'm still disappointed that Nissan didn't use the FX37 to underpin the JX instead of the Murano.

 

Infiniti JX35 owner here. My wife and I pulled the trigger on a loaded (all packages included) JX35 in February after deciding we needed more space than our 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland had (although my wife loved it to death). The dealer we went to sucked, but gave us a helluva deal on the Jeep (we got $4k more than what we owed on it), so it was hard to say no.

However, within the first few months of owning it, then taking a new 2014 MDX on a test drive a few weeks ago, here are some of the conclusions I've came up with:

Styling: As many of you have pointed out, the MDX's Jewel Eyes are aggressive looking. The styling of the MDX, being so low to the ground, does appear to be more station wagon like, but in reality, it only appears like that from the side view, but not front, back or 3/4. The JX has a bold, in your face styling in the front with all of the swoopy lines, but the side view looks strange with the rear window design. However, that design is highly functional, as I have sat in the 3rd row (more on that in a minute) and the extra top notch in the window creates a very airy feeling and good visibility to passengers back there. The rear of the JX, being so sloped down, gives the appearance of it being overly smashed down, this also restricts how high the rear hatch can be opened. I'd give the win to the MDX on styling overall.

Powertrain: For months, my wife complained that the JX never had enough power. I witnessed it, but wasn't trying to race anybody so I thought it should've been fine for her. Did I mention we lived at 6500 feet above sea level? During normal acceleration to 65mph, the tach would just zing and climb to 5000rpms. Even though one of the pluses of a CVT transmission was that you don't get a gear-change "jerk," this high revving was annoying and uncalled for. The MDX, at that same altitude, felt that it had plenty of power and was very responsive to downshifts and upshifts. My wife, by far, said that she preferred the powertrain of the MDX to the JX. However, now that we have recently move to Indianapolis, the JX engine has found new life and feels appropriately powered. I don't deny that the MDX would feel more powerful down here, but it has certainly erased this huge disadvantage. Win goes to Acura

Handling and Braking: Acura wins this, but that's not saying that the JX is necessarily inferior. The JX has a very small turning radius for being primarily FWD biased, and feels like it's shorter than even my 2010 TL!

Interior comfort and space: This is a huge selling point, and one that persuaded me to get my wife to give up her Jeep, but the Infinity simply has more space. I'm 6'3", 240 pounds and I can actually fit in the 3rd row. In fact, I have done it often. We have twins whose car seats fill up the second row, but moving them forward does not impede their foot space and only adds to mine. The rear seats also recline enough to let my head not touch the ceiling, an incredible feat all things considered. My mom and I have both fit back there at the same time, too, making the functionality of the JX awesome. As a final selling point, the passenger side, 2nd row seat actually is engineered so well, that I can scoot it all the way up to the first row seat and have room to climb out of the back seat. Hard, but not impossible. With the MDX, I immediately got in the 3rd row and found I could not fit. Without a reclining rear seat, I had to tilt my head uncomfortably to fit, if you could call it that. The second row also had to be scooted up to an inappropriate level to accommodate my legs and knees. Bottom line, the third row is unusable to anyone but children. But for families with two child seats, you have no hope to haul anybody in the back. Why won't car companies put LATCH systems in the third row!!!???? This could've solved everything! The front seats of both SUVs are comfortable enough, but I enjoy the extra, appropriate bolstering of the MDX. So the MDX wins in a drivers-only competition, but in a usability competition, the JX wins in every other way.

Technology: If you have little kids (more than one), then I'd give the advantage to the JX. Simply put, little kids need their own screen in front of them. Even smaller little ones aren't comfortable cricking their necks upward to view the Acura's ceiling mounted screens. A larger child would have no problem with this, but a 14 month old has the perfect vantage point from the JX. Also of note, the JX can play a different movie on each screen via different sources. Although the Advance Package MDX can too, I would be willing to bet it would be distracting/annoying to play two movies side by side with nothing to separate them. However, the Acura has more goodies up front for the driver. The JX is very simply laid out and easy to navigate though. So although I'm giving the JX the win with their technology and entertainment, I wouldn't mind the Acura's because I am techy and enjoy a lot of buttons and features. As a final point, the 4 cameras that the Infiniti have seemed like overkill at first, but then as I began to use them more and more in parking lots and with parallel parking, I never want to do either again without side and forward facing cameras. The birds eye view allow me to park it super close to a curb without hitting it. The MDX salesmen might've claimed that the MDX had 3 different camera views, but they were all from the back. Acura better put the birds-eye view camera on the MDX soon to be competitive in this market! It makes me feel like the car has came with more than it has.

Fit and Finish/Quality: This is our first Infiniti. We got an Obsidian Black/Java Leather interior. After one month with it, it immediately began to feel cheap. First point against it: the paint. The JX came with NO premium paint colors. No metallics or pearls! Can you believe it?! I should've done my research before purchasing it, but the paint on the Infiniti sucks ass. I even have found a drip in the factory paint! On top of that, the clear coat is so soft, that I literally create swirl marks with every hand-wash I do. And I use a three bucket method with microfiber towels that are reserved only for the paint and washed with each use! The Jeep had terrific paint, with a finish that was hard, durable and full of "pop." After 36,000 miles, I had only the tiniest of beginnings of swirl marks (never even polished the thing). But with the Infiniti, I've been polishing and sealing and waxing the surface as much as I can to get some any of the swirl marks I can, out. The paint is truly awful. With Acura's paint, I know from experience with my TL, but the paint is excellent. I would expect nothing else from the MDX. Also, the Infiniti had two interior trim items come loose and have to be handled under warranty to fix, as not even I could pop them back into place correctly. The floor mats in the JX also have the feel of cheap foam. They suck. They aren't even rubber-backed. Honda/Acura's floormat quality has declined in recent years (my Prelude has awesome floormats), but the Infiniti's feel like they just gave up trying. Finally, the steering wheel on the JX feels decidedly inferior, even to the tremendously awesome Jeep's. The JX uses cheap pebbled leather that has a cheap feel not all that different from a cheap pebbled plastic Ford steering wheel (Fusion owners know what I'm talking about). The Acura's layout is still awesome. The wood grain surfaces in the JX also scratch easily. Acura wins this category by a landslide. Owning this Infiniti has really opened my eyes to how terrific Acura's fit and finish has become.

Final thoughts: The JX was dwarfed in nearly every category by not only the MDX, but also that Jeep Grand Cherokee that we had! For every awesome tech feature that it added, it left out something so simple and easy. No self dimming side mirrors, no side mirror turn signals, doors that don't close all the way with differing levels of pressure, lack of a pearl or metallic paint option, and no Daytime Running Lights?!

I told my wife that I'm ready to jump ship and get the MDX soon. But since we bought our first house and are upgrade/remodelling hungry right now, we're probably going to wait until the prices start coming down. We can't wait to get back into an Acura though. We're sorry we abandoned ye!

 

Great review and perspective, even though a new RDX will fit my needs.

 

Yes, the fuel economy on the 2010 was disappointing. That being said, we live about 500 feet from where my wife works (she's a teacher) so many of the trips are less than 2 minutes running time. The engine never starts to get warm under those conditions.

 

Great review on the JX. It had interest when it came out, and in the Infiniti way, if you want big discounts, that's the Nissan/Infiniti way every day anytime, to sell vehicles.

The styling is nice and the interior looks nice, but from performance to long term quality and especially resale, the MDX last gen and all new gen walks all over it again. The CVT has perks, but in a car the size and weight of a JX, based on that front drive platform, it feels extra lazy.

I had a few clients mention JX when it first came out, comparing to our previous MDX at the time. Since then I have only had it mentioned twice, and earlier in the year we even had a customer bring one in to try and trade early on an RDX. Interesting stuff.

One of our driver's just traded his 2013 MDX with 1789 miles for a new 2014, and can't say enough about it. Including the windshield, now with that lack of a thick black strip at the top, he can see out "a world away now". I never realized that until him. He's already getting at least 5mpg better too.

 

Great write up! Thank you. We are actually deciding between the 2014 MDX and the 2014 Jeep GC Overland. Clearly, Acura will mean better service, warranty, and perhaps reliability but we are drawn to the rugged/aggressive SUV looks of the Jeep. Anyone else crossshop Jeep which by the way can be had for about $5 - $6k less than comparably equipped MDX. T

 

I would get the Jeep if rugged looks are important to you. I think Jeep quality is improving. The new MDX looks like a station wagon (quality station wagon).

 

I agree jeep is getting better. But no way in near future would i spend $40k on a jeep. Extra $6k for acura well worth it.

 

A win-win!

 

I don't mean to be a dick but I just don't understand how people are saying the '14s look 'like a station wagon...' MAYBE a minivan (from one angle) but certainly not a station wagon! Then again maybe it's just me! :-D

 

Question: Do any of the 2014 MDX models have the brembo brake calipers? I'm assuming the advance and perhaps tech models, or even the SH-AWD models but couldn't find any pics to confirm.

Can any of the lucky new owners confirm?

 

I see a SUV/CUV personally, which technically a CUV is pretty much a tall wagon in disguise in my opinion, but we Americans tend not to like wagons, so CUV sounds/looks better, which technically doesn't make sense when you actually think about it. So you're not bein a dick, just stating an opinion.

 

The Brembo brakes would have been an overkill on the '14 MDX, given that the OEM H-speed-rated tires are not high performance tires.

High performance brakes need high performance tires in order to work effectively.

 

 

I am cross shopping the MDX and the Grand Cherokee Summit. Test drove the Summit this weekend. Very nice vehicle with an interior that I think is better than the MDX. Ride quality is better on the MDX. Again, Reliability is a huge issue. The 8 speed auto tranny is really smooth on the GC.

 

Test drove the MDX right before the Grand Cherokee and the MDX was such a far better drive/ride we quit considering the Jeep. This is coming from someone who has been sold on the EcoDiesel Jeep for about 10 months. Lots of problems already being reported on the 2014 Grand Cherokees as well. It's very attractive but the weight overall and the hard seats especially turned us off.

 

I guess I had a different impression. Don't get me wrong, the MDX had a better ride, but the Grand Cherokee had a very civilized ride. I had not heard about the GC issues. The warranty is only 3 years, and the adaptive cruise is not full speed. They are currently offering $3500 off list, which makes it interesting. Also test driving a Cadillac SRX tonight. $4000 off the 2013 models at the moment. I would like to get all the bells and whistles but it still bothers me that I need to purchase the entertainment package in order to get the options I want. Leaning towards the MDX, but right now it is going to cost me at $8k more than a comparably equipped GC, and probably $5k more than the SRX. Probably money well spent though.

 

The GC has come a long way.....a VERY long way. From fit and finish to performance to appearance.

For the first time, I actually wouldn't mind having one in my garage. It just wouldn't come at the expense of the MDX currently in my garage.

 

What is amazing is that every single loaded $57.400 MDX in the Minneapolis area has sold. Only a few 2014's left overall. There are 291 2014 Jeep GC's within 30 miles. I doubt my local Acura dealers will sell below MSRP anytime soon.

 

Yes you can get Grand Cherokees below invoice pretty easily and they really do seem like they've come a long ways. They are using real wood and open pore wood on some interior color schemes. The Limiteds with Lux II pkg and up look great up front and all around due to the new LEDs. I found the Overland model especially pleasing to the eye. We really didn't care for the electronic shifter and after multiple test drives disliked the TFT screens after really liking them at first. The Navigation systems are prone to locking up and several 2014 owners have reported on message boards full failures (stranded on the road) shortly after taking delivery. We just don't want to wait any longer for the diesel and want something lighter quieter and more refined. We didn't realize this until we started driving other cars.

 

The navigation is a place where I think Honda could really improve. The screen resolution is average at best. Although in my former MDX, not a single lock up ever. My Audi locked up as I drove out of the parking lot. All the bells and whistles don't do you much good unless they are working. Still wishing they would have offered a dark brown or red interior.

 

Personally I wish Lexus still made the 100 series LX470 like the 2007 model. Built for a 25 year life in a third world country, body on frame, robust to the point of being almost indestructible. Good for 400-500k miles with minimal problems and just normal service. Also one of the best looking SUV's ever made. But I guess that is apples to oranges since Acura and the other manufactures are making CUV's for tough trips to the local mall

 

I agree that screen resolution as well as graphics could use some updating, but functionality goes, I think Honda/Acura navigation systems is by far the easiest to operate. Compared to the competition, finding POI and just overall operations is incredibly simple and intuitive.

 

Just saw the '14 in person in the showroom while my '11 was being serviced.

I don't like it.

The interior, while having less buttons (a plus), seems cheap. The doors don't have the same "thump" (probably lighter ?). The 2 screen setup is redundant. They could have done it all on one screen. I don't like the positioning of the vents on the center stack. Just looks weird, IMO.

The exterior, while I like the front I think Acura could have done a better job by including fogs in all trims. Without the fogs, the bumper looks like a never-ending sea of plastic. The rear is the biggest miss for me. They stuck reflectors where the exhaust used to be. Boooo. I am not sure if they put in a better night performing rear view camera in the '14, but assuming they didn't, the old exhaust location where the reflectors are now would have been the perfect place for better backup lights, IMO. At a minimum, you would be able to see the road surface at night when backing up by having the light source closer to the road.

Just my two cents.

 

I agreed. I really wanted to like the '14 and have been followed it since its spy photos came out. A close inspection in person revealed the same points as fxcarden's. In addition, I found somethings else disappointing: 1). Build & finish quality is down a notch comparing to my '03 MDX; 2). The trunck opening is very narrow vertically, a result of height reduction; 3). When 2nd row seats slided all the way back to have comparable leg room as '03, the cargo space suffers; 4). The new RDX even has a better looking rear end IMO.

Just my 2 pennies.

 

Looks like finally 2014 MDX inventory is picking up and dealers actually have cars in stock. Got a prices of $46,985 from a local dealer for the Tech Pkg. This was supposed to be costco pricing that dealer has since pulled but said thye will still honor the prices they gave to me. Is this a good price?